"He was a nice guy, all about work, his family and his wife," Anaya said. "He was always laughing."

Meyst attended College of the Sequoias, where he met Sarah, and worked at Long's and Walgreens drug stores before getting hired at the sheriff's department.

The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. on a rural road. It's still under investigation.

According to news reports, Meyst was driving north on Road 204, also known as Spruce Road, when he lost control near the Friant-Kern Canal, crashed and was ejected. Two inmates being transported sustained minor injuries.

"He was just doing his job and he was good at it," Boudreaux said. "There's two young boys over there that lost their dad. Keep your prayers for the family."